FOR 32 years in a row, former President Fidel V. Ramos, who turns 90 next month, repeated his famous Edsa People Power jump on Sunday—though with less in vigor and intensity—to mark the anniversary of the historic civilian-backed military revolt that toppled the authoritarian Marcos regime.
Ramos was one of the key players during the four-day Edsa People Power from Feb. 22 to 25, 1986. The others were former senator Juan Ponce Enrile, Senator Gregorio Honasan, Jaime Cardinal Sin, and former senator Agapito Aquino, brother of assassinated Senator Benigno S. Aquino Jr.
Upon learning that Marcos and his family had fled Malacañan Palace, Ramos, who was then the Armed Forces vice chief of staff and chief of the Philippine Constabulary and Integrated National Police, jumped with joy at the height of the revolt on Feb. 25, 1986.
For the past 32 years, Ramos always makes a point of repeating his now famous Edsa jump during its anniversary.
The former President who turned to column writing as a hobby renewed his call for all Filipinos to work together as Team Philippines to move the country.
“The Spirit of Edsa emanates from the Filipinos’ act of unselfish caring, sharing and daring for the common good—of believing that significant change could be achieved through lawful but courageous acts and decisions. Our People Power Revolution at Edsa could have ended in massive bloodshed. But, by God’s merciful wisdom, the 1986 Edsa crisis was resolved peacefully—and triumphantly—resulting in bloodless regime change that restored our democracy and civilian supremacy,” Ramos said in his Sunday column.
“Still, many wonder: Why did Edsa in February 1986 happen? Why did more than a million people, armed only with their convictions, democratic faith, and God’s protection, defy overwhelming odds—the threat of tanks, artillery, helicopter gunships, fighter planes and combat troops which could likely inflict sudden death or grievous injury?
“The answer simply is this: We gathered at Edsa and made our stand against dictatorship because we loved freedom, and were tired of the political system imposed upon us. We wanted our freedoms back plus a better future for ourselves and for those after us.
“The Spirit of Edsa teaches us that every citizen—poor or rich, young or old, lowly or elite, Grade IV dropout or Harvard Ph.D, can make a vital difference by respecting the law, paying our taxes, raising a proper family, and helping those in need,” he wrote.
Ramos added that the spirit of Edsa did not belong only to the past, but to the present and the future.
“Like it or not, our People Power Revolution at Edsa is a continuing revolution—an unfulfilled vision we must win without further loss of time and goodwill,” he said.
Ramos also said that unity, solidarity and teamwork will enable the Philippines to succeed in hurdling the country’s problems.
In his speech at the 32nd anniversary of the People Power uprising, Ramos said both citizens and government leaders must firmly instill the values of solidarity and unity the revolt inculcated in the past.
“First of all our 1986 Edsa People Power Revolution, that was just the start of change, not the end,” he said in Filipino.
“The outcome, which is a better future for our Filipinos, must be done by the succeeding administrations,” he added.